Australian new car buyers are embracing electrified vehicles in unprecedented numbers and the surge in their uptake has come at the cost of petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles.

January new car sales data released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that buyers are ditching traditional petrol-powered vehicles across all three main segments – passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial (dual-cab utes) – in favour of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full battery electric vehicles.

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Sales data records that Aussies bought 33,144 petrol and 24,439 diesel vehicles in January, down 14.7 and 3.7 per cent respectively compared with last year, continuing the trend of recent years, according to the CEO of the FCAI Tony Weber.

“January’s figures show a market that is stable, with Australians continuing to purchase vehicles that meet their needs for work, family and lifestyle,” he said. “We are seeing fewer petrol vehicles sold and rapid growth in plug-in hybrids, while uptake of hybrid and battery electric vehicles is more stable.“

In stark contrast, sales of electric cars were up 93.3 per cent year-on-year, recording sales of 7409 cars according to FCAI and Electric Vehicle Council. Conventional hybrid vehicles accounted for 15,121 sales, two per cent up over the same time last year.

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The big winner continues to be the plug-in hybrid segment, with January sales of 5161 PHEVs representing a massive 170.5 per cent increase measured against the same time last year. Chinese auto giant BYD contributed around 43 per cent of total PHEV sales, the Shark 6 dual-cab ute recording 1108 sales, joined by a trio of SUVs, the Sealion 6 (706), Sealion 8 (247) and Sealion 5 (161).

It’s a similar story in the EV category, where BYD easily outgunned its competition, its 2779 sales accounting for 37.5 per cent of the total market for battery electric vehicles in January. Kia placed second with 535 sales ahead of Tesla’s 501, an unusually slow month of the US brand.

Jeep Australia has confirmed a series of updates for the 2026 Wrangler and Gladiator, introducing a mix of functional changes, subtle interior revisions and new colour options aimed at improving usability while retaining the brand’s long-standing off-road focus. The revised range also includes a limited-run Wrangler 85th Anniversary Special Edition, marking 85 years since the Jeep name first appeared.

Rather than a major redesign, the 2026 updates focus on practical improvements that reflect how owners use their vehicles, particularly when it comes to open-air driving and off-road touring. Both the Wrangler and Gladiator now feature quick-release door hinges as standard, allowing doors to be removed more easily for drivers who regularly switch between enclosed and open configurations.

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Inside, both models receive minor cabin changes, with Tungsten-coloured stitching on the steering wheel replacing the previous red finish. The update brings a more subdued look to the interior without altering the overall layout or controls.

The Wrangler Rubicon benefits from a more substantial equipment upgrade. A heavy-duty steel front bumper is now fitted as standard, a feature previously offered as a paid option. The bumper adds extra protection for off-road use and reflects the Rubicon’s positioning as the most trail-focused variant in the Wrangler line-up. Jeep has also expanded the Wrangler’s colour palette for 2026, reintroducing several previously unavailable shades alongside a new limited-run colour.

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The Gladiator Rubicon receives a different set of updates aimed at day-to-day convenience. A remote start system is now standard, while the internal storage setup has been revised. The updated tool and bolt storage solution is designed to better accommodate parts removed when taking off the roof, doors or windscreen, replacing earlier hard plastic trays with a more flexible zippered pouch. Like the Wrangler, the Gladiator also gains access to several bold paint colours for a limited time.

Mechanically, both models continue unchanged. The Wrangler remains powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, while the Gladiator retains its 3.6-litre V6. Core off-road hardware carries over, including Jeep’s Rock-Trac four-wheel-drive system, solid axles, underbody protection and, on the Wrangler, a front-facing off-road camera. Both models continue to feature a 12.3-inch infotainment screen running Uconnect 5 with wireless smartphone connectivity.

Jeep Australia has yet to confirm pricing or arrival timing for the updated range, with further details expected closer to the 2026 on-sale date.

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De Tomaso has released the first images of its out-of-this-world V12 engine that will power its forthcoming P900 track-only hypercar. Looking like an alien predator from a sci-fi horror movie, the 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V12 pumps out 900 horsepower (662kW), and revs out to an astonishing 12,300rpm redline.

The 6.2-litre V12, which runs only on carbon-neutral synthetic fuels, was developed in-house in collaboration with German engineering firm Capricorn Group. Weighing just 220kg, it’s claimed to be the smallest and lightest V12 ever made. That’s helped keep the total weight of the P900 to 900kg, giving it a perfect 1:1 power-to-weight ratio.

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But the standout feature of the V12 is undoubtedly the Italtecnica Engineering designed exhaust manifold. It’s a complex arrangement, with 12 individual pipes channelling gasses to a single outlet. Fashioned out of heat-reflective Inconel 625 steel piping, the striking system wouldn’t look out of place on a Ridley Scott film set.

“A vision so bold it was said to be impossible,” De Tomaso wrote in a short statement on Facebook. “Sculpted for the eye, engineered for the ears.”

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The Hong Kong-owned, US-based De Tomaso is building just 18 of its P900 track-only hypercar at its facility in Affalterbach, Germany. First revealed publicly in 2022, each carries a price tag in excess of US$3 million (A$4.27 million). Deliveries were initially slated to begin in 2023. In August, 2024 De Tomaso confirmed that both the P900 and its P72 hypercar had entered the production phase. Now, the first images of the ‘alien’ V12 offer the clearest indication yet the project is still proceeding.

Australia’s new-vehicle market has opened 2026 on a steady footing, with January sales showing only modest movement compared with the same period last year. According to data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), a total of 87,092 new vehicles were sold during the month, up 0.3 per cent year on year.

The result suggests consumer demand remains resilient despite cost-of-living pressures, with buyers continuing to prioritise vehicles that suit everyday needs, whether for work, family or lifestyle use. FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said the figures point to a broadly stable market rather than any sharp upswing or downturn.

While overall volumes were largely unchanged, the make-up of the market continues to evolve. Petrol-powered vehicles recorded a 14 per cent decline in January, reinforcing a longer-term shift away from traditional internal combustion engines. In contrast, electrified vehicles continued to gain traction, led by a sharp increase in plug-in hybrid sales.

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Plug-in hybrids accounted for 5161 sales in January, representing 5.9 per cent of the market and a year-on-year increase of more than 170 per cent. Conventional hybrids also maintained strong momentum, making up 17.4 per cent of total sales. Battery electric vehicles held a relatively steady share at 8.4 per cent, indicating growth has plateaued for now after rapid expansion in recent years.

Weber said the data shows buyer preferences are shifting gradually rather than dramatically. Petrol vehicles are losing ground, plug-in hybrids are accelerating quickly, and hybrids and electric vehicles are settling into a more stable pattern of uptake.

The figures also highlight the changing origins of vehicles sold in Australia. China has now firmly cemented its position as the second-largest source of new vehicles, behind Japan, with sales of Chinese-built models rising 68.6 per cent over the past year. The growth reflects increasing acceptance of Chinese brands, particularly in value-focused and electrified segments.

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Toyota remained Australia’s top-selling brand in January with 14,310 vehicles delivered, followed by Mazda, Kia, Ford and Hyundai. The Ford Ranger once again led the model charts, ahead of the Toyota HiLux and Mazda CX-5. Chery’s Tiggo 4 Pro continued its strong run, finishing among the five best-selling vehicles, alongside the Mitsubishi Outlander.

Sales results varied across states and territories. Victoria and New South Wales recorded modest growth, while Queensland and South Australia edged lower. Western Australia and the Northern Territory saw more noticeable declines, underscoring how regional conditions continue to influence buying behaviour.

Overall, the January figures point to a market in transition rather than contraction, with electrified vehicles playing an increasingly important role in shaping Australia’s new-car landscape.

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Adrian Portelli’s push into Australia’s fuel market has taken a tangible step forward, with the first LMCT+ branded service station beginning to emerge in Melbourne’s inner north. As revealed in an Instagram post by Portelli, new signage has appeared at a former Shell site on the corner of Gower Street and Plenty Road in Preston, marking the first physical location tied to the membership-based brand’s fuel ambitions.

The move follows months of speculation across LMCT+ social media channels, where cryptic posts and captions such as “LMCT+ Petrol incoming” hinted at a national rollout. When images of the Preston site were shared online, reaction from followers was immediate with comments demanding cheaper fuel, custom blends and calls for Portelli to take on Australia’s broader cost-of-living pressures.

In one teaser post, Portelli’s brand wrote, “If they don’t comply, make them regret it,” fuelling speculation the venture is aimed directly at challenging established fuel retailers.

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Portelli has previously said the idea was born out of frustration with major petrol chains, claiming they were unwilling to offer meaningful discounts to everyday motorists. According to LMCT+ posts, the new service stations will be positioned as “rewards hubs”, linking fuel discounts to the broader LMCT+ ecosystem of memberships, promotions and giveaways.

While only one site is currently visible, industry chatter suggests the Preston location is just a starting point. One industry source familiar with the sector said expectations around the scale of the rollout are already far larger than a single Melbourne servo.

Despite increasing discussion around electric vehicles, analysts say traditional fuel retail remains commercially viable in the short to medium term, supported by strong hybrid sales and steady fuel margins.

For now, LMCT+’s petrol presence begins with a single rebadged site. But judging by the messaging coming from its social channels – and the reaction they continue to generate – Preston may be less a one-off experiment than the first marker in a much larger play.

The Australian federal government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is partnering with Hyundai Capital Australia (HCAU) to provide discounted finance on eligible electric vehicles from Hyundai and sister brand Kia.

The CEFC has committed up to $60 million to the scheme which aims to make EV ownership more affordable for both private and small business buyers. Under the initiative, eligible customers could save between 0.5 and one per cent per annum on their finance rate, depending on the model. According to the CEFC, a discount on the interest rate of one per cent on a $70,000 loan, could potentially save buyers over $1900 in interest costs over five years.

Eligible Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles must be priced under the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold (currently $91,387) while the scheme applies only to full battery electric vehicles, and excludes hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

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Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the CEFC initiative was designed to make EV ownership more affordable for more people while also helping to reduce vehicle emissions.

“This CEFC investment will help lower the cost barrier for households and small businesses, making EV ownership more accessible,” said Mr Bowen. “Transport is one of our biggest sources of emissions, and electric vehicles are a key way we cut pollution while saving people money.”

Hyundai Capital Australia chief executive Donglim Shin said he hoped the CEFC investment could help the decision-making process for buyers who are considering the switch to electric cars, but are apprehensive about the costs.

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“Electric vehicles are an important part of Australia’s mobility future but cost can be a barrier for many customers,“ Shin said. “Reducing the purchase price of the vehicles could help sway motorists who are considering low-emission options.

“Working with the CEFC allows us to offer discounted finance on eligible Hyundai Motor Group EVs, making ownership more achievable for Australian customers.“

The list of eligible Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles currently under the LCT threshold includes:

• Hyundai Inster
• Hyundai Kona Electric
• Hyundai Elexio
• Hyundai Ioniq 5
• Hyundai Ioniq 6
• Kia Niro
• Kia EV3
• Kia EV4
• Kia EV5
• Kia EV6

According to data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and Electric Vehicle Council, Australians bought a total of 103,269 battery electric vehicles in 2025, a record number representing 8.3 per cent of the total new car market and an increase of 13.1 per cent over the previous year.

As artificial intelligence traffic cameras become standard across Australia, concerns are mounting over their accuracy, particularly when it comes to detecting mobile phone and seatbelt offences. With AI-based enforcement now operating nationwide, a growing number of motorists are questioning infringement notices and taking their cases to court.

AI cameras are designed to automatically identify illegal mobile phone use and seatbelt breaches, capturing images that can lead to fines and demerit points. However, according to high-profile traffic lawyer at Astor Legal, Avinash Singh, the technology is far from foolproof. Singh warned that the systems frequently misinterpret common items as mobile phones.

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“AI cameras are notoriously unreliable at detecting mobile phone use in particular,” Singh said. “The technology often mistakes other objects for phones. We’ve seen cases where wallets, glasses cases and even battery packs have been incorrectly flagged.”

Transport authorities across the country maintain that images captured by AI cameras are reviewed by trained human operators before penalties are issued. While this reassurance is intended to build confidence in the system, Singh says it raises further questions.

“If these images are genuinely being checked by people, it makes the volume of incorrect detections all the more concerning,” he said. “There’s no transparent way for drivers to verify how thorough that review process actually is.”

Legal professionals report that AI-generated infringements are now being regularly challenged, particularly in cases where the image evidence is unclear or open to interpretation. Singh is encouraging drivers who believe they’ve been wrongly fined to consider disputing the notice rather than paying it automatically.

“To challenge an AI-based fine, the driver must elect to take the matter to court instead of paying it,” Singh explained. “The case is then listed for a hearing, where a criminal defence lawyer can argue that the prosecution cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the image shows a mobile phone.”

With AI enforcement expanding and penalties remaining severe, experts say scrutiny of the technology – and how it’s applied – is likely to intensify as more drivers push back against questionable fines.

China is set to outlaw retractable and flush-fitting door handles on new vehicles, following growing safety concerns that electrically operated systems can prevent occupants or emergency services from opening doors after a crash.

The ban will come into effect from 1 January 2027 and applies to passenger vehicles weighing under 3.5 tonnes. Under the new rules, cars must be fitted with clearly identifiable physical door handles on both the inside and outside, each incorporating a mechanical emergency release that can operate independently of the vehicle’s electrical systems.

The move follows a series of high-profile incidents worldwide involving vehicles with electronic door mechanisms. In the United States, Tesla has faced multiple lawsuits linked to crashes in which doors allegedly failed to open due to power loss. US safety regulators have been assisting investigations into several fatal incidents where occupants were unable to exit vehicles after collisions.

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China has seen similar cases. Last year, domestic manufacturer Xiaomi was scrutinised after a driver reportedly died when he could not escape his SU7 electric sedan following a crash. These incidents prompted China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) to conduct a wide-ranging safety review covering more than 230 vehicle models equipped with electronically operated door handles.

Following that review and a public consultation process, the government decided regulatory intervention was necessary. The new standards specify that at least one interior door handle must be mechanically released and easily recognisable to occupants. Exterior handles must also allow sufficient hand clearance to operate a mechanical release and must be positioned no more than 300mm from the door’s edge.

The decision could have implications beyond China, which remains the world’s largest automotive market. Carmakers may be reluctant to engineer separate door-handle designs for China and other regions, potentially accelerating a broader shift back to conventional handles globally.

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Flush and retractable handles have become increasingly common over the past decade. Popularised by Tesla and high-end brands such as Aston Martin, the design has since spread across a wide range of European and Chinese manufacturers. The handles are often used to reduce aerodynamic drag, making them particularly attractive for electric vehicles seeking greater driving range.

Every Tesla model currently on sale uses electronically operated handles, though the company has previously indicated it is working on solutions to meet upcoming regulations.

While the new rules will apply immediately to newly approved models from 2027, vehicles already in production will be granted a transition period of just over two years to comply. As a result, drivers may soon see a noticeable design shift as manufacturers prioritise mechanical simplicity over flush aesthetics in the name of safety.

The New South Wales Government has moved to defend plans to expand its speed and red-light camera network after motorists criticised the rollout as a form of revenue raising.

Under the proposal, around 10 new cameras will be installed each year across the state, with Transport for NSW (TNSW) confirming the devices will be placed at locations identified as high risk based on crash and near-miss data. The announcement has prompted strong reactions from some drivers, who argue the program unfairly targets motorists.

TNSW, however, insists the cameras are designed solely to reduce road trauma. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, the department said the approach is aimed at rule-breakers rather than compliant drivers, and that all locations are chosen using evidence-based safety assessments.

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The next wave of cameras is expected to be installed across several Sydney suburbs, including Auburn, Beecroft, Blacktown, Concord, Greenacre, Lewisham, Sylvania, Wentworthville and Wetherill Park. Regional areas are also included, with new enforcement planned for Blackbutt, Doyalson, Nowra and San Remo.

Chadi Chalhoub, Executive Director of Transport Safety, said the expansion is a direct response to persistent road safety concerns. “Last year we lost more than 350 people on our roads, and around 40 per cent of those deaths occurred in crashes where speeding was the main factor,” he told the outlet.

Those figures reflect a broader national trend. More than 1300 people were killed on Australian roads in 2025, many in crashes authorities say could have been avoided.

According to Chalhoub, research consistently shows automated enforcement plays a key role in improving driver behaviour. “Expert evidence tells us camera enforcement is one of the most effective ways to increase road safety, and it’s used widely both nationally and internationally,” he said.

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He added that red-light speed cameras are installed at intersections with a history of serious incidents, with the goal of slowing vehicles and preventing drivers from running red lights.

Responding to claims the program is unfair, Chalhoub stressed that motorists are given ample warning. “Every speed camera in NSW is clearly signposted, whether it’s a red-light camera, an average speed camera or a mobile unit,” he said. “All locations are also published on the TNSW website.”

The government, he said, would prefer drivers never be fined at all. “We would rather have people follow the rules and stick to the speed limit than receive even a dollar from penalties,” Chalhoub told Yahoo\.

“There are no excuses for speeding,” he added. “Slow down and drive to the conditions.”

Tesla Australia has made a small change to its line-up to bring it inline with other markets around the world, including the USA and Europe.

Regular versions of the Model 3 sedan and Model Y mid-size SUV will now be called ‘Premium’, with the Performance models still sitting atop the range. Instead of just ‘Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive’, ‘Model 3 Premium Rear-Wheel Drive’ is now in its place.

Tesla says the move is to align the local operation with its global naming structure – but it also potentially opens the door for the less expensive Standard models to launch in Australia at some point. The Standard models are available in some global markets and offer less features, but are priced lower as well. Officially, Tesla Australia says that the Standard models won’t be offered locally.

Aside from the new naming structure, the Model 3 and Model Y have received no changes to specifications or pricing and the Model 3 continues to be priced from $54,900 plus on-road costs and the Model Y from $68,900 +ORC.

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The brand also recently extended its Australian warranty to five-year/unlimited km coverage, which is joined by five years of roadside assistance as standard.

2026 Tesla pricing in Australia (plus on-road costs):